Low-pressure automatic gas cut-off



Jan. 1, 1924 1,479,374

- J. T. F. CONTI LOW PRESSURE AUTOMATIC GAS GUT-OFF Filed Jan. 25. 1922 gll Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

entree sra'rss ream serene a es.

. JAMES 'rIBUBcn FELIX oon rr, or rears, FRANCE;

LOW-PRESSURE AUTOMATIC GAS CUT-OFF.

Application filed; January 25, 1922. Serial No. 531,724.

to he a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others killed in the art to which it-appertains to nake anduse the same, reference being had the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon,

which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a safety apparatus of the siphon type which is so disposed as to. effectthe automatic closing of the gas piping wherewith' the apparatus is connected, should the pressure in the said pipingdescend below a stated value which is adjustable as desired. The piping cannot be subsequently opened except by placing the apparatus-in the proper working condition. The object-of the said apparatus is to prevent accidents which may be caused by the gas, such as explosions or asphyxia, these beingdue as a general rule to one of the following causes:

1. The gas meter is closed while leaving one of the burners open, thus causing an unobserved leakage when the meter is again opened.

Thesame thing may occur when the temporary closing of the gas is due to repair work on the outer piping or mains or to any other cause.

3. A considerable leakage may occur which will cause the pressure to become reducedin the piping.

T these various cases,

in the apparatus comes automatically into action and immediately shuts off the piping.

The safety siphon apparatus according to this invention may also be considered as a checking device for leakages. In fact if all the burners being closed, the gas meter of the installaton is closed, the pressure would be still maintained in the piping it it is gas tight.

But in case of leakage, the pressure will be reduced and the apparatus will efiect the automatic closing of the piping. However, the controlling of the apparatus can be rendered less accurate if desired either by increasing the volume of gas contained within the installation, or by allowing a. certain small leakage at the cook or" the gas meter in order to maintainthepressure within the prescribed limits for the gas tight condition of the installation when the gas meter is closed. I

v Tho-following description, together with the accompanying drawing which is given by way of example, sets forth an embodiment of this invention.

' Fig. l is a diagrammatic view showing vertical section of the apparatus in the case where it allows free passage of the gas.

Fig. 2 is a similar view'showing'the various levels when the flow of gas is cut off by the liquid of the siphon. 1

The said apparatus is constituted by the U-tube a which is interposed in the gas piping. At the bottom ofthe said tube is disposed the vertical tube 6 having-an enlarged portion 79 andcommunicating with a siphon c d Whose upwardly extendin branch is also provided with an enlarged portion 0 whilst the downwardly extending branch (Z is immersed at the lower art in the vessels. The vertical position o l-the said vessel is adjustable for instance bythe slide 6 as shown, or byany other suitable means. A fourth-tube f is connected both ith the tubes 6 and 0, for instance as shown in the drawing, the 'saidtube ha ing an enlarged portion 7' and ending in the tunnel A suitable movable receptacle 9 is'so disposed as to receive the overflow from'the vessel *e; The operationzoi' the apparatus is f asfol lows: The apparatus being partially, filled with water or other liquid, as shown in Fig. 1, the gas will flow freely in the U-tube a. and the gas pressure I will maintainfthe liquid in thetube b at the. level N depending upon the pressure of the gas, with reference to the level 1-1 which is established in the tube f.

at the level of top of the overflow vessel 6.

Should the gas pressure become reduced for any reason, the difference in the height of the levels N and H will tend to diminish; the liquid will rise in the tube 6 and will descend at the same time in the tube f and in the vessel 6, the respective vertical movements depending upon the cross-sections. when the level in the vessel 6 uncovers the lower aperture of the branch (Z of the siphon 0 (Z, the latter will become unprimed, and the liquid of the enlarged portion 0 will rise into the lower part of the U-tube a, occupying the place of the gas as far as the levels N N Fig. 2.

When in this position, if the gas pressure should increase, this will have the effect of separating the levels N N in the branches of the U-tube but the gas flow will continue to be stopped.

In order to again establish the gas flow and to empty the U-tube, it will be necessary to vrestore the apparatus to operating conditions by pouring water into the tube f through the funnel F. This will have the effect of again priming the siphon 0 (Z and of thus filling again the vessel e. Nhen the latter begins to overflow, the filling operation is observed to be completed, and the liquid will overflow automatically untilthe level in each of the tubes assumes the original position shown in Fig. l.

It will be observed that by adjusting the height of the vessel 6 the value of the reductionof pressure which is required to obtain the automatic closing'of the gas piping is determined. T he apparatus also provides for the automatic discharge through the overfiow of the vessel 6 ofthe water of condensation which is brought over in the gaspiping, and the apparatus will thus serve as an automatic draining device. Inasmuch as the same liquid is employed throughout all the operations of the device, a liquid having a stable character may be used, such for instance as Vaseline oil.

The apparatus according to the present i vention may be constructed in different manners and may receive various applications. It may be used particularly to effect the automatic closing of piping containing liquids of different densities, or for the passage of gases which may be used alone or may contain various substances in suspension.

Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in w iat manner the same is to be carried out, I de* Clare that what I claim is 1. A safety apparatus for piping used for gaseous fluids, comprising a 'U-tube inter-' posed inthe piping of the gas to be controlled, a siphon leading from the bottom of the said U-tube, liquid contained in the said siphon, a vessel communicating with the downwardly extending discharge branch or V the said siphon, and means for effecting the automatic unpriming of the siphon when the gas pressure falls below a stated value.

2. A safety apparatus for piping used for gaseousfiuids, comprising a U-tube interposed in the piping of the gas to be controlled, a siphon leading from the bottom of the said U -tube, liquid contained in the said siphon, a vessel having immersed therein the downwardly extending discharge branch of the siphon, and means for effecting the vertical displacement of the said vessel in order to adjust the standard operating pressure of the apparatus.

3. A safety apparatus for piping used for gaseous fluids, comprising a U-tube interposed in the piping of the gas to be controlled, a siphon leading from the bottom of the said 'iJ-tiibe, liqu-id contained in-the said siphon, a vessel having immersed therein the downwardly extending discharge branch.

of the siphon, means for regulating the vertical position of the said vessel, and a filling branch opening into the atmosphere and ending at the horizontal branch of the" sicharge branch of the siphon, a filling branch ending at the horizontal branch of the siphon, and a receptacle for receiving the overflow of the said vessel.

5. A safety apparatus for piping used for. gaseous fluids, comprising a U-t-ube interposed in the piping of the gas to be con trolled, a siphon leading from the'bottom of the said Ll-tube, a chamber having a relatively large capacity disposed on the'intermediate branch of the siphon, a vessel having immersed therein the downwardly extending branch of the said siphon,and llqllld" filling the said siphon and the said vessel. In testimony that I claim the for'egoin g as my invention, I have'signed my name.

JAMES TIBURCE FELIX coNT'r 

